With speed, defensive prowess, Chris Alleyne ready to compete in College Park

Chris Alleyne is one of ten players in the class of 2017 who have signed their National Letter of Intent to play baseball for Maryland.

The switch-hitting middle infielder out of Philadelphia, Pa., signed his National Letter of Intent on November 9.

Chris Alleyne signed his National Letter of Intent to play for Maryland on Nov. 9.

“There’s just a huge difference in the way that the conversations went with the coaches at Maryland,” Alleyne, a senior at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, said. “They really just explained everything perfectly and I love the campus.”

Springside Chestnut Hill head coach Joe Ishikawa is confident that Alleyne is well prepared for Maryland. He believes that defensively, Alleyne could play at the Division I level now.

“Defensively, he’s in another world,” he said.

According to Ishikawa, Alleyne has quick hands, a great arm and is very versatile. He allows Ishikawa to play his outfield deep because of how well he can move to shallow left and center field from shortstop.

Offensively, Ishikawa described Alleyne as a clutch switch hitter with gap-to-gap power, who is also very fast.

“When he gets on the base path he creates chaos pretty quickly,” Ishikawa said. “Its rare he gets on first and not work his way around to score.”

Alleyne was named a high honorable mention on Rawlings and Perfect Game’s 2016 Preseason All-American Team.

Alleyne will join a former Springside Chestnut Hill Blue Devil on the Terps’ roster next fall.

Junior outfielder Zach Jancarski, who is good friends with Alleyne’s older brother, showed Alleyne around the campus during his visit to Maryland.

During Jancarski’s first year on the Terps, he entered as a pinch runner sixteen times and started in four games. As a sophomore, Jancarski started in 28 games and became the everyday center fielder two months into the season.

Ishikawa predicts a similar path for Alleyne.

“It’s very difficult for a freshman to come in and take the place of a returning senior, but I’m sure he’s going to get time,” Ishikawa said. “He’s just such a presence on a field.”

Alleyne is up for any challenge. He plans to come out and compete for his spot on the team everyday when he arrives in College Park.

“I love to compete because I think it brings out the best in players and it’s a huge part of my game,” Alleyne said.

Ishikawa pointed out Alleyne’s competitive spirit as one of his biggest strengths.

“He is just a true competitor and with that comes his extraordinary work ethic,” Ishikawa said.

Until Alleyne gets the opportunity to compete for a spot on the field at Maryland, he is preparing for his senior season by working on hitting for power.

In addition to improving another aspect of his game, Alleyne’s goal for his senior season is to be a good leader.

“I want to lead my team to a league championship by bringing them together and setting a foundation for the freshmen and sophomores,” Alleyne said.

Typically, the captain position on Springside Chestnut Hill’s team is reserved for seniors. However, Alleyne was named captain by his teammates last year, as a junior, and will return as head captain this year.

“Everyone gravitates to [Alleyne],” Ishikawa said. “If you take nine magnetic balls and spread them apart and then run one around them picking them all up, that’s him.”